HOUSE, 1 HIGHAM ROAD

Parent Place or Precinct

22385 North Fremantle Precinct

Statement of Significance

House, 1 Higham Road, is a typical weatherboard and iron single storey cottage dating from the 1900s. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the typical building stock located within the residential areas of North Fremantle. Historically significant as a representation of typical workers' houses in the North Fremantle area.

Physical Description

House, 1 Higham Road, is a single storey weatherboard and iron cottage with symmetrical facade constructed between 1900 and 1921. Walls are painted weatherboards. Roof is hipped corrugated iron with no eaves. The verandah is under a separate bullnose iron roof supported by timber posts. The front elevation would have been symmetrical however now has double French doors in place of an original window opening, and a timber sash window on the other side of the central front door. Originally a simple two roomed cottage, the form of the building has been altered quite substantially, yet retains the weatherboard cladding. The is no fence to the front boundary line.

History

Messrs Congdon, Higham and Abbott subdivided this area of North Fremantle in the early 1890s. The residential lots were gradually sold off, and by 1905, the Higham Road had been declared a public highway. The road was named for John Joseph Higham, one of the original developers. Several of the lots remained undeveloped until the inter-war period. House, 1 Higham Road was constructed between c. 1900 and 1922. It first appears in the 1921/22 rate book when it was owned by Henry A. Meldrum. Meldrum continued to own the property until at least 1949. By 1955, title had passed to Francis L. Day, who held the property as an investment. Meldrum remained in occupation as the tenant, an arrangement that continued until at least 1982. A 1939 plan shows House, 1 Higham Road as being weatherboard, with a full length front verandah, a relatively large paved area at the rear of the house and a path in the back yard. This place was included in the 'North Fremantle Heritage Study' (1994) as a place contributing to the development and heritage of North Fremantle. It was also included in the list of heritage places in the City of Fremantle identified by the Fremantle Society (1979/80) - RED -significant for contributing to the unique character of Fremantle. In 2005 the physical description included a tiled roof but as at Aug 2015 street view the roof has been replaced with corrugated galvanised iron and a bullnose verandah roof.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability, later unsympathetic alterations and materials). Medium degree of authenticity with some loss of original fabric. (These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

Condition assessed as good (assessed from streetscape survey only).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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